Baldwin strong in defense of title, ousts Kalaheo, 3-0

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAIPAHU — Yes, Nicole Garbin no longer plays for the Baldwin High School girls soccer team. But no, the Bears do not look any less like the two-time defending state champions they are.

'Aiea 5-foot-4 goalkeeper Diana Shiroma gathers the ball as Hilo's Allison Iyo closes in. 'Aiea used its taller keeper, 5-11 Chanelle Takemoto after the third penalty kick to help save Na Ali'i's 2-1 win. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Punahou outlasted Pearl City, 3-2 on penalty kicks.

Even without Garbin, the 2001 State Player of the Year and now a standout at the University of Oregon, Baldwin displayed the same type of efficient, precision offense that helped produce the past two state titles.

"They play with a lot of discipline, and if they keep doing that, they're going to do well," Kalaheo coach Alan Heu said of the Bears. "That's the kind of well-disciplined play we're trying to instill here."

Jenavi Iida gave Baldwin a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute off an assist by Geana Saffery. Kami Kapaku made it 2-0 in the 49th minute with an unassisted goal, and Koren Takeyama finished the scoring with a goal off Kapaku's assist in the 78th minute.

Using a highly organized offense run by well-skilled players, the Bears outshot the Mustangs 8-3 in the first half and 17-7 for the game.

"We have to work more as a team this year," said Takeyama, an All-State defender in 2001. "When people said we couldn't win it again, we took it as a challenge and stepped it up. We cannot rely on Nicole anymore, but if we play as a team, we can win."

That team play included a strong defensive effort led by junior defender Kapua Atay, who helped neutralize Kalaheo forward Lindsey Peck. During the OIA season, Peck led the Eastern Division with 17 goals. But against Baldwin, her opportunities were few and far between.

"Kapua played a terrific game," Bears coach Kawika Keator said. "She was denying (Peck), and we told her if Lindsey got the ball, stay close and don't let her turn."

Heu, who once coached Keator on Kamehameha's JV team, said he is proud of his former pupil's work with the Bears.

"They shut Lindsey down and we weren't able to get the ball out to the wings as well as we would have liked," Heu said. "I give Kawika a lot of credit. He's really doing well at that program."

• PUNAHOU 3, PEARL CITY 2: The Punahou School girls soccer team avoided an upset by Pearl City in last night's state semifinals, but only after 80 minutes of regulation, 20 minutes of overtime and 10 penalty kicks.

The No. 2 seed Buffanblu won 3-2 on penalty kicks after senior Michelle Quensell, their fifth shooter, scored to give Punahou a 4-3 advantage with no shooters left for the unseeded Chargers (10-4-1). Punahou (8-1-2) will play two-time defending champion Baldwin (11-1-2) in today's semifinals.

The Buffanblu, who won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu title last week with a tie against Pac-Five on the season's final day, needed every ounce of energy to get past Pearl City last night.

"Amazing, just an incredible game," Punahou coach Jorge Barbosa said. "We expected it to be this tough, although as a coach I didn't want it to be."

The Chargers, who took fourth in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, made it exciting thanks to gritty play by several underclassmen and the stellar play of senior forward Carmen Calpo.

Ashley Campbell gave the Buffanblu a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute on an unassisted goal, but Pearl City tied it nine minutes later on Calpo's header off Christie Ayers' free kick. Pippa Macdonald's short goal in the 33rd minute put the Buffanblu up 2-1, and Calpo tied it in the 73rd minute on a spectacular shot after Chante Figueroa's well-placed cross.

Calpo, who last week signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Hawai'i next fall, and Figueroa, a sophomore, together scored 32 goals this past regular season. On Calpo's second goal, Figueroa raced down the right side and sent a looping cross to Calpo at the top of the penalty box. Calpo, a right-footed kicker, used her left foot to send a diagonal laser into the right bottom corner of the net from about 25 yards out.

That was the last score in regulation and the two overtime periods.

When the game went to penalty kicks, each team missed one of its first four shots. Pearl City's fifth shot went high over the crossbar, and Quensell scored on Punahou's fifth shot.

• 'AIEA 2, HILO 1: After 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, backup goalkeeper Chanelle Takemoto made a save on Hilo's fifth and final penalty kick to help Na Ali'i (11-1-2) advance to tonight's semifinals.

Mia Van Kralingen gave the Vikings (15-1) a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute, and Kim Unten tied it in the 64th minute.

• MILILANI 1, KAILUA 0: Jen Loo scored unassisted on a looping shot from about 35 yards out in the 54th minute to lift the Trojans (12-0-1) past the Surfriders (10-3-2) in semifinal action.

CONSOLATION

• KING KEKAULIKE 5, KAPA'A 3: Kainoa Correa scored three goals and Chandi Bickford scored two goals to lead Na Ali'i (10-3-2) past the Warriors (4-2-1). Jackie Huttger scored two goals and Kelly Devitt scored one goal for Kapa'a.

• HAWAI'I PREP 1, KEALAKEHE 0: Mikela Yarawamai scored the game's only goal in the 76th minute to lead Ka Kamakani (13-5) past the Waveriders (12-6).